The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-31
SCOUTS OF Tux PLAINS.
ZEN WHO HUNT INDIANS TO THE
BITTER DEATH.
Who They Are, What They Are.
and Now They Live-Jaek Crau.
ford, the Poet Scout.
IN. Y. Slar.l

descrlbable charm about the frontier
which makes the frontlersman
kind Of hero OF romance to the most
staid citizen, a marvellous creature TO
the city boy, aud the legitimate prey
Of the dime novelist. From Capt
Mayne Reid down to Ned Buntline
in our own generation, his influence
is felt as strongly in fiction as in the
days Of our fathers, when Cooper
wrote OF Leather Stocking and For
rest on the stage thrilled us with the
perils aud adventures OF Metamora.
About the scout the interest Gull
inmates. Royalty has honored him
in Buffalo Bill, and he receives the
respect due 10 prophet both at
home and abroad. Yet there are
very few people, outside Of army Off
ccrs,who nave served on the frontier,
Who know anything more about him
except that he wears his hair long,
rides bucking bronchos, is dead
shot with rife and revolver, and is
suspected Of having lurking desire
when undor the influence OF red
liauor" 10 carminatc the town and
raise general ruction. That he has
killed Indians by tho score is taken,
like an axiom in Euclid, as not ne
eosssry Of demonstration.
The number OF scouts now in the
active service OF the United States
has become very small The Black
Hills country, where Buffalo Bill,
Wild Bill and Charley Utter ("Col.
Orado Charley") won their laurels.
is now we'll settled aud the scout is
no longer known but as q memory,
and will never more be in demand.
From the Platte to the Yellowstone
the Cheyenne and Sioux are van
quished forever, and the Hon. Will
IAN II. Cody alone revivcs in tho
Wild West show the memories Of
the days when the gallant Custer
fell in the front rank OF civilization.
The Comanche and Lipan no longer
thanks to tho gallant Texas Rang
ers-raid on tho frontier Of the Lono
Star State, aud there, too, the 90.
oupation OF the scout has disappeared
with the advance OF civilization.
The scout OF today is TO be found
only in the military district Of New
Mexico and the department Of Ari-
sOna.
There the scout has O foeman
worthy OF his stoel-the uutAmed
Apache, who goes on the war path
yearly with almost the regularity Of
the coming in Of the rainy season.
These sayagcs have never really sub
nitted 10 either tho American or
Mexican Governments since the days
Of Magnas Colorado, who was chief
when New Mexico and Arizona first
became part and parcel Of tho United
States. They are estimated TO num-
Der 6000. the major part being on
United States reservat ons at San
Carlos, Aria. and sho Mescilero
agency in Lincoln county, New Mex
100. Not at any time do more than
from 100 TO 200 leave tho reservation
yet they succeed in spreading do.
struction 10 life and property Tor hun.
dreds Of miles on both sides Of tn,
frontier. When in 1882 Geo. Crook
was plsoed in com mand Of the Do.
partmcnt Of Arizona he quickly
came 10 the conclusion that he could
do very little with these savagos fsht.
ing them with regular troops, whose
movements were 30 slow that they
were always in the rear Of the hos
tiles and never, except by n nero
chance, came up with them. lie
determined TO Gght Ere with fire. aud
enlist the Apachos hs could rely upon
10 fight their hostile brethren, plao
ing them under white scouts as chiefs
and assigning regular army officer
10 each company 81 Indian scouts
Gen. Crook, in explanation OF thi,
departure, remarked IN me Just as Ia
was about 10 start on bis memorable
campaign in the Sierra Madre, Mex
100 ut Il no reflection on the reg
ulaT soldier, but organized and
equipped A. they are thoy cannot
ogcriake Indians who make sir,y
miles 10 twcuty.fnur hours on foot
10 q word, We cant catch mosquitoes
with a sig mule team.
Although Gen. Crock FIRST carried
out the idea Of organizing companic.
Of Indian scouts on large scale
ihoro were some isolated scout com
panios organized by Col. Edward
Hatch, of tho Ninth Cavalry, in Me-
Mexico in 1880. | was doing it'll,
scouting, or rather guiding, for Col
PurTington, who has his head
quarters at Knights ranch, aud
Wss brought into contact with th'
most extraordinary type Of the arm
scout | ever encountered IN Capt
Jack Crawfard, who a few years be
fore was a partner with Buffalo Bhl
illustrting the border drama, ant
who is now stationed as govcrumsnl
agent 10 charge OF Fort Craig, Al
abandoned military post 10 Socorr,
IN. " county, waiting the noI
summons 10 tho field.
1aos is tho only government scou
on thg active list | have ever mo
who wears his hair long, nevo
touches a drop Of intoxicating liz
uora aud IL withal a poet. aud one o
no mean ability. la fact. no Is no
a little proud Of his power IN ths
line, and has succeeded in publish
ing a volume oi verse which cnjoyo
very iaif sale. He Is a Scotohma
by birth, but came 90 this cnuntr
at very carly ago and enlisted in u
army when only about sixteen. III
vas wounded twice during the va
and was taught 10 read aud write b
mo Sisters Of Charity when lying I
tho Si.erlee Hospital, Philadelphia
Howas oao ofthc carly pioneers Of n
Black Hills, aud Ia the Indian can
pliru o. ls76 ho was second 10 con
inand ~ General Crooks scouts. I
August 9th Of that year he succeed,
Buffalo Bill ~ chioi OF scouts, !
latter having rcsignod. During u
Sitting Ball expedition he made q
daring and remarkable ride OF q
miles from Medicine Bow, on q
Union Pacific railroad, 10 Roseb'
and tho Little BIG Horn, carryi
dispatches through tho midst of =
Toe, riding by night and hiding IN {
a - O.. N.W IUaWtuU that